Machine for supplying/dispensing containers and long articles in general

ABSTRACT

The invention starts with a hopper ( 1 ) where the objects are randomly introduced, with a bottom ( 2 ) tilted towards an adjustable outlet opening ( 3 ), arranged under the latter there is a unitary metering device ( 5 ) leading to a discharge plate ( 22 ) of a grooved front edge ( 23 ) so as to intertwine with blades ( 11 ) of a lifting means ( 6 ), wherein said plates are spaced by a magnitude which is not quite twice the width of the objects to be handled, a lifting means ending at a transfer mechanism consisting of a conveyor ( 27 ), also with grooved blades ( 28 ) acting on a base plate ( 29 ) framed by two rails ( 30 ) guiding the objects towards a drop opening ( 17 ), with means which make the objects swing during their fall so that they adopt the correct position when they reach an exit conveyor ( 41 ), between two side walls ( 34 ), another conveyor ( 36 ) collaborating with said conveyor ( 41 ), the former provided with a plurality of pushing means ( 35 ) spaced by a magnitude in accordance with the width of the objects to be conveyed.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a machine particularly designed forfeeding elongated objects, particularly containers, with or without ageometric differentiation on their longitudinal ends, including therandom receiving of objects in a storage hopper, the selection andvertical positioning of the objects, as well as the exit conveyor meansfor said objects.

The machine is mainly applicable to handling bottles, jars or othercontainers, both in packaging lines and in screen-printing or labelingprocesses thereof, and generally in all those processes in which it isnecessary to arrange elongated objects, whatever their geometricconfiguration may be.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Although the current state of the art allows covering virtually anyindustrial need of feeding elongated objects, such as bottles forexample, existing machines are not always capable of meeting certainrequirements, such as feeding objects with no geometric differentiationon their ends, performing their task with a low noise level, optimizingthe speed of movement of the objects so as to minimize the risk of marksthereon due to friction, blows, etc.,

All these machines have the common denominator of using compressed air,a use which is inappropriate in certain practical applications in whichoptimum sanitary conditions are required, as occurs in the case of thepharmaceutical industry.

These problems or limitations are present both in commonly used rotaryoperating feeders and in other linear operating solutions existing,given that in all of them the movement of the objects is performed inthe longitudinal direction thereof, a high speed in said movement beingcaused.

The massive use of compressed air mentioned above so as to performselection of the objects is, together with said high speed of movement,what causes a significant noise level.

Feed-dispensing machines with the drawbacks set forth above are found,among others, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,681,209; 4,463,846 and WO 00172616.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The feed-dispensing machine proposed by the invention resolves in afully satisfactory manner the drawbacks set forth above in the differentaspects discussed.

Careful handling of the products specifically constitutes an object ofthe invention, minimizing effects resulting from friction and blowsthereon.

Another object of the invention is the reduction of room noise producedby the machine.

In turn constituting another object of the invention is the eliminationof compressed air in those sanitary requirements so demanding it.

Another object is the feeding of elongated objects, whatever theirgeometric configuration may be.

Finally, another object is to achieve a controlled feed of the objectduring the entire feed process.

To that end and more specifically, four operating stations are arrangedin the proposed machine, a first object receiving and pre-selectionstation, a second object transfer and selection station, a thirdvertical positioning station and a fourth exit conveying or evacuationstation.

Collaborating in the first area is the inevitable hopper in which theproducts are randomly introduced, which hopper, according to one of thefeatures of the invention, has a bottom opening for the dropping of theobjects, with the collaboration of an adjustable hatch, whichspecifically allows varying the length of said opening, immediatelyunder which either a blade metering device or a reciprocating movementmetering device is arranged, holding back the objects coming from thehopper and delivering them to a pre-selection lifting means.

According to another feature of the invention, the lifting means, withclassic object dragging blades, has grooved blades which, in combinationwith an also grooved edge of the supply plate coming from the meteringdevice, assures a perfect capturing of the objects by said liftingmeans, with the additional particularity that the spacing between bladesis less than twice the maximum width of the objects to be handled. Thelifting means blades can be planar or adopt a triangular profile, suchthat in the latter case the spacing between blades must also be lessthan twice the maximum width of the object to be handled.

At the beginning area, the lifting means is further provided withadjustable side walls which can be adjusted on a grooved guide, theseadjustable walls of the lifting means being combined with hatches of themetering device.

According to another feature of the invention, arranged at the outlet ofthe lifting means, provided with two end straight path sections and anintermediate notably curved path section of an upwards concavity, thereis a grooved transfer blade which ends at a base plate, with an upwardsor downwards horizontal surface framed by a pair of rails forming aclosed funnel in the feed direction of the object, said base plateending with an outlet opening for the dropping of the objects.

This dropping may occur by supporting the objects on one of the siderails and through only one of their ends by means of a rod centrallylocated at the outlet opening on which the object sways since its centerof gravity is offset with respect to said rod; or in a thirdalternative, by means of retractable guides which, depending on which ofthem is actuated, make the object fall in one direction or the other.

Arranged under the drop opening leading to the exit conveyor belt aretwo static and tilted walls, said conveyor belt being aided by verticalpushing means located between said static walls, the space betweenpushing means being equivalent to the maximum width of the object, andthe tilted walls ending in vertical flaps for perfect guiding of thealready vertically arranged objects.

Finally and according to another feature of the invention, it has beenprovided that the pushing means have notches or restrictions on theirbottom extremity for the placement of individual supports for theobjects to be handled should the latter lack stability or requirespecial handling making said supports advisable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description being made and for the purpose of aidingto better understand the features of the invention, according to apreferred practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached asan integral part of said description, wherein the following isrepresented with an illustrative and non-limiting nature:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a schematic representation of acontainer and generally elongated item feed-dispensing machine, carriedout according to the object of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a detail of the machine of the previous figure, at thelevel of its feed hopper, provided with a reciprocating movementmetering device replacing the blade metering device of the previousfigure.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a detail at the level of the metering deviceoutlet area.

FIG. 4 shows a side elevational view of a partial schematic detail ofthe pre-selection lifting means.

FIG. 5 shows a representation similar to the previous figure, whereinthe configuration of the blades of said lifting means has been changed.

FIG. 6 shows a partial detail of the fixing of the blades of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a detail of the end area of thelifting means and of the object transfer and selection area, where aside elevational view of one of said objects is schematicallyrepresented.

FIG. 8 also shows a perspective view of an embodiment variant in theobject transfer and selection area.

FIG. 9 shows a plan and cross sectional view of another embodimentvariant of the object transfer and selection area of the machine.

FIG. 10 shows a detail of the machine at the level of union between theobject transfer and selection station and the vertical positioning endstation.

FIG. 11 shows a plan profile view of a detail of the beginning of thevertical positioning station.

FIG. 12 shows a side elevational and plan view of a detail of theevacuation or outlet means in the specific case in which the latterincorporates individual supports for stabilizing the objects.

Lastly, FIGS. 13 and 14 show two embodiment variants for the pushingparts collaborating in the exit conveyor belt, removably coupled to thefixing arm.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the figures discussed and starting from the object receivingand pre-selection station, it can be seen how the proposed machine isformed from a hopper (1) where the objects are randomly introduced, saidhopper having a tilted plane (2) in its bottom portion partially closingit, defining an opening (3) on the bottom end of said plane for droppingthe objects. In order to adjust the opening (3) to different objectsizes, there is an adjustable hatch (4) allowing the reduction of thelength of said opening, keeping its width constant.

On the bottom portion of said opening there is a metering device (5)which holds the objects coming from the hopper (1) and delivers them toa pre-selection lifting means (6), according to the requirements of thelatter, requirements which are determined by a sensor (7) controllingthe level of objects at the beginning of the lifting means (6), giving ago ahead or stop signal for the operation of the metering device (5)through the general control panel of the machine.

Said metering device (5) is formed by two or more blades (8) arrangedradially about a shaft (9) perpendicular to the feed direction of thelifting means and performs the functions of holding and controlledmetering of objects by means of a rotating motion.

The area for dropping objects from the metering device to the liftingmeans (6) is defined by respective side walls (18) of the meteringdevice and by a discharge plate (22) forming the plane tilted downwardstowards the lifting means, acting as a ramp for dropping the objectstowards said lifting means. Said plate (22) has a grooved area (23) inits bottom portion which intertwines with the blades (11) of saidlifting means when they come together.

Operation of the metering device can be any type producing a continuousrotation susceptible to being stopped according to the signal comingfrom the sensor (7), such as an electromotor or a transmission from thelifting means (6) provided with a disconnection clutch.

However, the metering device may be structured according to anembodiment variant shown in FIG. 2, wherein said metering device is areciprocating movement device and is formed by two blades (8) joined atthe axis of rotation and also joined by a cylindrical section (10), thepurpose of the latter being to prevent objects from remaining housed inareas where they could become damaged due to the blades in saidreciprocating motion. This variant can be actuated in a manner similarto the continuous rotation version or by means of a dynamic fluidcylinder.

The pre-selection lifting means (6) consist of a conveyor provided withblades (11) for dragging and lifting the objects, the configuration andarrangement of which determine that, at the end of the lifting, amaximum of one object is housed in the space defined by two consecutiveblades.

Said blades (11) have grooves (12) that are complementary with thegrooves (23) of the discharge plate (22), allowing their intertwining.

Said lifting means (6) have a receiving area (13) where the objects arelocated in a lowered transverse position with respect to the feeddirection within the spaces defined by the blades (11).

The receiving area is characterized by its rectilinear configuration,arranged horizontally or with a slight upwards tilt so as to facilitatethe entrance of bottles in said spaces. After this area is thepre-selection area (14) where the conveyor acquires a curvedconfiguration in the vertical direction until obtaining such a tilt thatit causes the fall of objects poorly positioned between the blades or ofthose objects which may be on top of another, such that at the end ofthe pre-selection area there is a maximum of one object in each space.

The curved configuration of this area is particularly important sincethe blades acquire a radial geometric configuration with respect to oneanother, whereby reducing the distance between their top or free ends,favoring the dropping of those objects on top of one another or poorlyplaced in the spaces defined by the blades (11).

The end portion of the lifting means is formed by a new straight section(15) that lifts the already pre-selected objects up to the transferstation, and the tilt of which coincides with that of the top end of thepre-selection area (14).

The lifting means (6) have arranged in at least one of their receivingand pre-selection areas respective side walls (16) guiding the fall ofthe objects to their correct housing between the blades (11), thedistance of said walls being adjusted so as to make the feeding ofobjects with very different lengths possible in a single machine.

Given that the adjustment of said walls (16) must be adjusted in anycase to the fixed discharge width of the metering device (5), the sidewalls (18) of the metering device have respective articulated hatches(19) which are supported on the side walls (16) of the lifting meanssuch that adjusting the distance between the side walls (16) increasesor decreases the distance between them, opening or closing the hatches(19) of the metering device, as can particularly be observed in FIG. 3.

In order for the curved pre-selection area (14) to carry out its task, auseful distance (A) between two consecutive blades (11) is necessary, asshown in FIG. 4, which does not allow more than one object to be fullyplaced within it. Therefore, the useful distance between said blades(11) must be less than twice the width and thickness of the object to beselected, useful distance (A) being understood to mean the distancecorresponding to the free space existing between the front and rearsides of two consecutive blades.

A variant of said blades, the one shown in FIG. 5, contemplates anasymmetrical transverse section (20) for the blades, wherein side (B) ofthe blade pushes the object while side (C) has a slope that reduces thewidth of the following housing such that the distance (D) between twoconsecutive blades in the top portion thereof may be greater than twicethe diameter or width of the object, and in exchange distance (E) in thelower portion defining the space for housing the object remains lessthan two times its diameter or width.

This variant is particularly important for achieving higher objectlifting speeds, since the greater distance (D) between bladesfacilitates the entrance of the objects into the housings.

The blades of the lifting means are interchangeable so as to make itpossible to handle a variety of objects. To that end, there is a groovedguide (25), particularly visible in FIG. 6, fixed to the conveyor andarranged perpendicularly to the feed direction, which fits with acounter-groove (26) existing in the bottom portion of the blade, suchthat the latter can be interchanged by means of a simple lateralmovement, said blades being provided with locking means preventing anyaccidental movement.

Now in discussing the object transfer and selection area, once thepre-selection of the objects is performed in the lifting means, theformer are transferred to the selection station so as to determine whichof their longitudinal ends should be in the top portion and which one inthe bottom portion when vertically positioned.

Said transfer is performed by means of a conveyor (27) that can be seenin its entirety in FIG. 1, the blades (28) of which are interchangeableand synchronized with the blades (11) of the lifting means, theyhorizontally push the object, making it move forward linearly in thesame transverse arrangement in which the object is received from thelifting means, arranging in the space existing between the lifting meansand the selection station a grooved transfer plate (31) which holds theobject while at the same time allows the intertwining of the blades (11)of the lifting means.

Said selection station is formed by a base plate (29) that holds theobject during its linear forward movement due to the pushing of theblades (28) of the transfer conveyor (27) and rails (30) appropriatelyarranged according to the adopted selection criterion.

Depending on the features of the object, the contact surface of the baseplate (29) with the object could be horizontally arranged or it couldhave an upwards or downwards tilt so as to adjust the height of thetransfer blades (28) to the selection criterion.

The transfer blades (28) coincide with the blades (11) of the liftingmeans at the point of intersection of both, said transfer blades (28)having the corresponding counter-grooves making said coincidingpossible.

In the last section of the selection station, the base plate (29) has acentral opening (17) having sufficient dimensions so that the objectcannot be held, the object falling to the positioning area.

According to an embodiment variant, said selection occurs by means ofthe geometric differences of the longitudinal ends, as shown in FIG. 7.In this case, the rails (30) located on the base plate (29) are arrangedin a funnel shape with respect to the feed direction of the object, suchthat they have a distance (F) between one another at the front end ofthe funnel, exceeding the total length of the object, and the distance(G) at the back end corresponds to the length (H) of the body of theobject, in other words, with no geometric differentiation, such thatwhen the object reaches this area of the funnel, its geometricdifferentiation is located above the corresponding rail.

At the end of the funnel formed by the selection rails (30), the latterextend towards the opening of the base plate in a parallel arrangementin the feed direction such that when the object reaches said opening,falling through it, it is momentarily held by its end corresponding toits geometric differentiation by the rail located under it, whereby theobject falls with the opposite end first.

Another selection criterion, the one shown in FIG. 8, consists ofallowing the object to fall towards the longitudinal location of itscenter of gravity. In this case, the rails have the same configuration,first funnel shaped and then in parallel arrangement, but unlike theprevious selection criterion, centering of the object is performed bytaking in its entire length, the rails having sufficient height so as totake in the longitudinal ends of the object if it is an irregularobject.

Arranged in the opening of the base plate (29) is a rod (32) aligned inthe feed direction of the object and located on the axis of symmetry ofthe rails, such that when the object is located above said opening, itis suspended by the rod (32), whereby any shifting of its center ofgravity with respect to its middle longitudinal point coinciding withthe rod (32) causes said object to fall precisely towards the side whereits center of gravity is located.

Another selection criterion, the one shown in FIG. 9, consists of theidentification of graphic signs or marks which may determine a specificposition of the object. In this case, the arrangement of the rails issimilar to that of the selection criterion using the center of gravity,disregarding the central rod (32) and one or several sensors suitablefor identifying the differences that the object may have being arranged.

Said sensors 100 indicate the selection position to the machine controlpanel, retractable guides (33) located under the rails, one on eitherside, in the base plate opening area, being actuated such that one ofthe ends of the object is located above the retractable guide, actuatedin its selection position, whereas the guide of the opposite sideremains retracted under the corresponding rail. Said guide actuated inits selection position momentarily holds the object such that the latterfalls on its opposite end.

The operation of said retractable guides (33) can be any type that issusceptible to causing the described movement, for example by means ofdynamic fluid cylinders.

After this is the vertical positioning station, also shown in itsentirety in FIG. 1, such that located under the opening of the baseplate (29) are two tilted static walls (34), arranged parallel to thefeed direction of the object which form an open assembly, the elevatedcross section of which defines an inverted trapezium with its top andbottom sides open. Moving linearly inside said assembly are verticalpushing means (35) attached to a conveyor (36) defining the horizontalpath of said pushing means.

The synchronization between the forward movement of the pushing means(35) and that of the transfer blades (28) causes that when the objectfalls through the opening of the base plate (29), it is located betweentwo pushing means, the thickness (I) of which, as seen in FIG. 10,defines an unoccupied distance (J) between shafts equivalent to themaximum width of the object, making it move forward between the tiltedwalls, such that a trapezoidal drop conduit is defined, forcing theobject to be vertically positioned during its forward movement. Saidtilted walls (34) can have a vertical or slightly tilted bottom flap(37), as observed in FIG. 11, if the positioning of the object sorequires.

Each one of the pushing means (35) is formed by a fixing arm (38), asseen in FIG. 13, attached to the conveyor and a vertical pushing part(39) joined to said arm by means of one or more vertical lockingprofiles (40), such that said pushing part is easily removable in asimple vertical movement.

The evacuation of the already positioned objects is carried out by meansof a conveyor (41), also seen in its entirety in FIG. 1 and in greaterdetail in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, said objects being able to be placeddirectly on said conveyor or else be housed in individual supports (42),such as in the case of unstable containers for example.

In this case, the pushing means (35) have on the bottom portion of theirfront and back sides respective notches or recesses (43) equivalent tothe wall thickness (K) of the individual supports (42) such that saidindividual supports coming from a general conveyor (44) are located inthe space (L) defined by the notches (43) of two consecutive pushingmeans (35), whereby the distance of its top portion (J) equivalent tothe maximum width of the object is centered with the housing (45) of theindividual support. As a result, the object positioned vertically duringits fall is housed directly in the corresponding individual support(42).

Said pushing means (35) likewise have on their bottom portion a wedgeprojection (46), FIGS. 12 and 14, causing the separation between theindividual supports (42) accumulated on the general conveyor (44),regulating their entrance into spaces (L) defined by the notches (43) ofthe pushing means (35).

1. A container and generally elongated item feed-dispensing machine, ofthe type including a hopper (1) in which objects are randomly introducedand in which said objects finally adopt a vertical arrangement indesired positions, comprising: a hopper having an outlet, whereinarranged at said outlet of said hopper (1) is a metering device (5–10)leading to a discharge plate (22) ending at a lifting means (6) providedwith a plurality of blades (11) of a grooved free edge, said dischargeplate (22) having an also grooved edge (23) so as to intertwine with theblades (11), and said lifting means (6) ending at a transfer plate (31),also of a grooved edge, for access to a transfer and selection stationin which a base plate (29) framed by two side rails (30) collaborates,located on which is a conveyor (27), located above the base plate (29)and provided with grooved blades (28) similar to those of the liftingmeans (6), a plate (29) provided with a central opening (17) for thedropping of the objects, with a positional selection criterion of theobjects, towards a vertical positioning station having a first endlocated under the opening (17) of the base plate (29), said verticalpositioning station having a second end whereby movement of objects fromsaid first end to said second end defines a feed direction for theobject, wherein two tilted and static walls (34) are provided, arrangedparallel to said feed direction of the object, linearly moving forwardinside of which are vertical pushing means (35) attached to a conveyor(36) defining a horizontal path for said pushing means (35) which dragthe objects, separated from one another, on a bottom conveyor (41) onwhich they are placed.
 2. A container and generally elongated itemfeed-dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein said meteringdevice (5) is formed by two or more blades (8) radially arranged about ashaft (9) perpendicular to said feed direction of said lifting means,which shaft is provided with a duly controlled rotational movement.
 3. Acontainer and generally elongated item feed-dispensing machine accordingto claim 1, wherein said metering device is formed by a shaft (9)attached to which are two radial blades (8), said two radial bladesdefining a first area and a second area circumferentially therebetween,said two radial blades further joined to one another by a cylindricalsection (10) in said first area and defining a void in said second area,said cylindrical section arranged and configured to close said outlet ofsaid hopper (1), said metering device being actuable, in a dulycontrolled reciprocating movement, so as to locate said void in front ofsaid outlet of said hopper (1).
 4. A container and generally elongateditem feed-dispensing machine according to claim 1 wherein said meteringdevice is formed by a shaft (9) attached to which are two radial blades(8) joined to one another by a cylindrical section (10) closing saidoutlet of said hopper (1), said metering device being able to beactuated, in a duly controlled reciprocating movement, so as to put aspace between said two blades (8) in front of said opening; and locatedon said discharge plate (22) are two side walls (18), while at the sametime arranged at the beginning of said lifting means (6) are two otherside walls (16) on which respective articulated hatches (19) aresupported which guide the objects towards said lifting means (6).
 5. Acontainer and generally elongated item feed-dispensing machine accordingto claim 1, wherein said lifting means (6) has a receiving area (13)where the objects are located in a lowered transverse position withrespect to the feed direction in the spaces defined by said blades (11),of a rectilinear profile, arranged horizontally or with a slight upwardsinclination so as to facilitate the entrance of the objects, apre-selection area (14) where said conveyor acquires a curvedconfiguration in the vertical direction so as to cause poorly placedobjects to fall, and an end area in which its profile is straight againand rises up to the transfer station.
 6. A container and generallyelongated item feed-dispensing machine according to claim 5, wherein thedistance between said blades (11), which can be planar or of atriangular profile, is less than twice the width or thickness of theobject to be selected.
 7. A container and generally elongated itemfeed-dispensing machine according to claim 5 wherein the distancebetween said blades (11), which can be planar or of a triangular profileand having a bottom edge, is less than twice the width or thickness ofthe object to be selected; and said blades (11) of said lifting means(6) are exchangeable so as to make it possible to handle different typesof objects, for which purpose there is a grooved guide (25) fixed tosaid conveyor and arranged perpendicularly to the feed direction thatfits in a counter-groove (26) existing on the bottom edge of the blade.8. A container and generally elongated item feed-dispensing machineaccording to claim 1, wherein said side rails (30) of said objecttransfer and selection station are arranged in a funnel shape withrespect to the feed direction of the object, having a maximum spacing inan initial area and a minimum spacing in an area, said maximum spacingexceeding the total length of the object, and said minimum spacingcorresponding to the length of the body of said object defininggeometric differentiation such that when the object reaches said endarea, the geometric differentiation is located above the correspondingrail, making the opposite end drop first.
 9. A container and generallyelongated item feed-dispensing machine according to claim 1, whereinsaid rails (30) located on said base plate (29) are arranged in a funnelshape with respect to the feed direction of the object, such that thefront end of said funnel has a width exceeding the total length of theobject, and the outlet width matches the total length of said object,said base plate (29) having a rod (32) aligned in the feed direction ofthe object and located between said rails (30), such that when theobject is located above said opening (17) it is suspended by said rod(32), swinging due to the offset between its center of gravity and saidrod (32).
 10. A container and generally elongated item feed-dispensingmachine according to claim 1, wherein said rails (30) located on saidbase plate (29) are arranged in a funnel shape with respect to the feeddirection of the object, its initial spacing being greater than thetotal length of the object, whereas its spacing at its outlet matchessaid total length of the object, the transfer section incorporating oneor several suitable sensors for identifying the differences which theobject may have, and said sensors triggering retractable guides (33)located under the rails (30), said sensors location one on either sideabove the opening (17) of said base plate (29), said guide (33)corresponding to the end of the object which should adopt a lowerposition being refracted.
 11. A container and generally elongated hemfeed-dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein located under theopening (17) of the base plate (29) are two tilted and static wails (34)arranged parallel to the feed direction of the object, forming an opendrop conduit leading to said bottom conveyor (41), said pushing means(35) acting on said open conduit, which pushing means are in turnattached to a said conveyor (36) defining a horizontal path for saidpushing means, which are spaced from one another by a magnitude that isequivalent to a maximum width of the object.
 12. A container andgenerally elongated item feed-dispensing machine according to claim 11,wherein each pushing means (35) is formed by a fixing arm (38) attachedto the conveyor (36) and a vertical pushing part (39) joined to said armby means of one or more vertical locking profiles (40) such that saidpushing part is easily removable by vertical movement.
 13. A containerand generally elongated item feed-dispensing machine according to claim11, wherein each pushing means (35) is formed by a fixing arm (38)attached to said conveyor (36) and a vertical pushing pan (39) joined tosaid arm by means of one or more vertical locking profiles (40) suchthat said pushing part is easily removable by vertical movement; andsaid pushing means (35) incorporate respective notches or recesses (43)on the bottom portion of their front and back sides for coupling toindividual supports (42).
 14. A container and generally elongated itemfeed-dispensing machine according to claim 11, wherein each pushingmeans (35) is formed by a fixing arm (38) attached to said conveyor (36)and a vertical pushing part (39) joined to said arm by means of one ormore vertical locking profiles (40) such that said pushing part iseasily removable by vertical movement; and said pushing means (35)incorporate respective notches or recesses (43) on the bottom portion oftheir front and back sides for coupling to individual supports (42); andthe pushing means (35) have a wedge projection (46) on their bottomportion causing separation between one another when they are accumulatedon a general conveyor (44), regulating their entrance into spacesdefined by said notches (43) of said pushing means (35).